Tube cleaner



Jan. 22, 1929. 1,699,993

D. J. ROSENSTEEL TUBE CLEANER Fnedgs ru 11, 1928 MM 'illlllll IIIIIIl'lI/A Attarrzqy Patented Jan. 22, 1929.

DUKE J. ROSENSITEEL, 0F EBENSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA.

TUBE CLEANER.

Application filed April 11, 1928.

The present invention relates to improvements in tube cleaners and hasreference more particularly to a device for use by undertakers andsurgeons for cleaning rubber tubing used for draining purposes.

One of the important objects of the present invention is to provide atube cleaner of the above mentioned character, which will, at all times,be positive and efficient in its operation, the same being simple inconstruction, inexpensive, strong and durable and well adapted to thepurpose for which it is designed.

Other objects of the invention will become apparent during the course ofthe fol lowing detailed description taken in connection with theaccompanying drawing.

In the drawing, wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown thepreferred embodiment of my invention,

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the tube cleaner embodying my invention,showing the same in an inoperative position, and

Figure 2 is a similar view showing the co-acting rollers in an operativeposition, the inner ends of the levers being broken away.

In the drawing, wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown thepreferred embodiment of my invention, the numeral 1 designates generallymy improved tube cleaner, the same comprising upper and lower co-actinglevers or handles designated by the numerals 2 and 3 respectively. Theinner ends of these levers are curved inwardly and are hingedly securedtogether as at 4, whereby said levers are capable of vertical swingingmovement.

The outer ends of the levers are bent inwardly and thence laterally toform a pair of parallel spaced arms 5 and 6 respectively when the sameare arranged in inoperative position.

A male roller 7 is loosely mounted on the outer end of the arm 5, forrotation thereon, a cap screw 8 being associated with the outer end ofthe arm for securing the roller against displacement from the arm, and aflange or shoulder 9 is formed on the 1ntermediate portion of the armfor engagement with the inner end of the roller. A washer 10 isinterposed between the outer end of the roller and cap screw, as furthershown in Figure 1.

Cooperating with the male roller 7 is the female roller designatedgenerally by the numeral 11, the same including the drum 12 Serial No.269,157.

that is loosely mounted on the outer end portion of the arm 6 that isassociated with the lever 3 and the cap screw and washer is associatedwith the outer end of the arm to retain the female roller thereon.

A pair of discs 13 and 14 are formed on the outer and inner ends of thedrum 12 whereby a spool like structure is provided, and the male roller7 is adapted for disposition between the discs for engagement with thedrum.

A bolt 15 extends upwardly through an opening formed in the inner endportion of the arm 6 and the adjacent portion of the arm 5 is formedwith a slot 16, through which the threaded upper end of the bolt 15projects. A sleeve like adjusting nut 17 is threaded on the upperthreaded end of the bolt for engagement with the upper face of the arm 5and the lower end of this sleeve like adjusting nut is rounded, whilethe upper end is formed with a knurled finger engaging portion 18, tofacilitate the actuation of the adjusting nut.

An expansible coil spring 19 encircles the bolt 15 as disposed betweenthe arms 5 and 6 for normally urging said arms apart, and to separatethe male roller with respect to the female roller.

When the parts are arranged as shown in Figure 2, a rubber tube A isengaged on the under side by the drum 12 of the female roller 11, whilethe male roller 7 engages the top portion of the rubber tube and whenthe levers moved inwardly toward each other, a pressure is exerted onthe rubber tube and the male roller is held in an operative positionwith respect to the female roller, by means of the adjusting nut 17cooperating with the threaded end of the bolt 15 against the tension ofthe expansible coil spring '19.

When the parts are arranged as shown in Figure 2, the implement can bemoved along the rubber tubing for cleaning the same, and after thecomplementary rollers have served their purpose, the rubber tubing maybe removed and the rollers moved to an inoperative position by looseningthe sleeve on the threaded end of the bolt and the expansible coilspring 19 will automatically move the pivoted levers in an outwarddirection.

The simplicity of my improved tool enables the same to be readily andeasily actuated and furthermore can be constructed at a very low cost.

. ed on the outer end portion of one arm,

a complementary male roller loosely mounted on the outer end of theother arm, means extending between the inner ends of said arms forsecuring the male and female rollers in an operative position withrespect to a rubber tube, and additional means cooperating with thefirst mentioned means for normally urging the arms apart, to dispose themale and female rollers in an inoperative position. I

2. In a tube cleaner of the class described, a pair of levers pivotallyconnected together at their inner ends, the outer end of each leverbeing bent to form an outwardly extending arm, a female roller looselymount ed on the outer end portion of one arm, a complementary maleroller loosely mounted on theouter' end of the other arm, meansextending between the inner ends of said arms for securing the male andfemale rollers in an operative position with respect to a rubber tube,and additional means coopcrating with the first mentioned means fornormally urging the arms apart, to dispose the male and female rollersinan inoperative position, said means comprising a bolt extendingthrough an opening formed in the inner end of one arm, the inner endportion of the other arm being formed with a slot through which the freeend of the bolt extends, and a manually operable adjusting nut threadedon the outer free end of the bolt for engagement with the outer face ofthe slotted arm.

8. In a device of the class described, a pair of levers pivotallysecured together at their inner ends for swinging movement, the outerend of each lever being formed with an outwardly extending arm, a maleroller loosely mounted for rotation on the outer end of one arm, acomplementary female roller loosely mounted for rotation on the outerend of the other arm, a bolt extending through the inner end of one arm,the head of the bolt engaging the outer face of said arm, the inner endof the other arm being formed with a slot through which the threaded endof the bolt projects, an adjusting nut threaded on the threaded end ofthe bolt for engagement with the outer face of the slotted arm to holdthe rollers in an operative position with respect'to each DUKE J.ROSENSTEEL.

